Apparatus for the visual interpretation of speech and music



Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,279

E. B. CRAFT APPARATUS FOR THE VISUAL INTERPRETATION OF SPEECH AND MUSIC Filed Oct. 6, 1925 Rec.

lnvenfor: Edward 5. Craff Patented Nov. 5, 1928.

UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD B. CRAFT, OF HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR THE VISUAL INTERPRETATION OF SPEECH AND MUSIC.

I Application filed October 6, 1925. Serial No. 60,715.

This invention relates to apparatus for the visual interpretation of acoustic effects suchas are derived from electrical sound reproducing systems.

An object of the invention is to facilitate the coordination of lightand sound.

A related object of the invention is to vary ,lighting effects in accordance with the characteristic frequencies and intensities of sound wave' energy; Y

Another. object of the invention is to utilize a portion of the energy in an electrical sound reproducing system to produce complemeh'tary tones and shades of light without impairing the quality or volume of the sound produced.

It is recognized that many articulate sounds are, readily susceptible of interpre: tation by various tones and shades of color. Flood lights and other lighting effects, for example, are often employed to enhance the artistic effect produced by music, most musical compositions suggesting various degrees of. light andcolor, The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive system for associating light and soundwhieh is equally applicable to commercial and domestic use.

Briefly, the invention provides a coordinate system for producing lighting effects which blend in'harmony with the articulate sounds produced by a phonograph or other sound reproducing system. The lighting system may include a plurality of colored lamps which are selectively controlled in accordance with the characteristic frequencies and intensities of the sound wave energy in an electrical sound reproducing system. If desired, the lamps may be associated with a diffusing. device such as an opalescent globe or bowl to improve the color contrast accompanying the reproduced sound.

The various features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1.is a circuitdiagram of a phonograph reproducing system embodying the invention. 4

Figs. 2 and 3 are modifications, illustrating the adaptation of the system of Fig. l to loud speaking telephone and radio receiving systems, respectively.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a cabinet phonograph equipped in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the appliphonograph reproducer '5 is' coupled through a transformer 6 to an amplifier 7, the output of WllICll is coupl-edthroughki second transformer 8 and circuit 9110 an electrically operated loud speaker 10. y

The reproducer 5 may be of any suitable type, such as the electromagnetic reproducer disclosed and claimed in-a .copending application of H. C. Harrisomserial No. 66,624, filed November 3, 1925. The reproducer when actuated by a phonograph record, as illustrated, generates electrical currents which drive the motor element of the loud speaker in accordance 'with'tlie'record. The volumelevel'of the reproduced speechor music may be controlledin'any well-known manner, as by adjusting the amplifier 7 to control the electricalfinpuflto thefloud speaker.

A plurality of channels; includingwavefilters F,, F,. and F re'spectively, are bridged in preassigned range of frequencies and tocfiec-tively suppress all frequencies lying outside of such range. Filter F for example, may be a low pass filter transmitting all frequencies from zero to 410 cycles, and

suppressing all other frequencies. Filter F may be of the band pass type, designed to transmit frequencies of 410 to 820 cycles,

and filter F may be a high pass filter transmitting all frequencies above 800 cycles. These filters may be designed in a cordance with the principles set forth in the U. S. patent to Campbell, No. 1,227,113, issued ll-Iay 22. 1917.

The generator G and rectifier ll constiparallel across the circuit 9. The output side of the filter F, is coupled 50 lamps.

tute a common source of'space current and filament heating current for the amplifying detectorsA,', A and A,, and may also serve to supply energy to the lamps L L and L 6 A grid polarizing battery 12 is connected in'com'nion to the cathodes of the several detector tubes.

In operation, a small portion of the energy in the cir'c'uit 9 of an e'lectromagnetic'loud 10 speaker of any well known construction will be selectively transmitted by one or more of the filters F F and 1?, to the input cir- -,cuits of the respective detectors, depending upon theg trequency-of the transmitting energy The -space current thus produced in any of the detector circuits will cause the associated-damp in the plate-filament circuit ;,to glowfftoabrilliancy depending upon, the inte'nsitypf theenergy impressed upon the grid circuit; h en'no energy is'transmitted; giyeri channel, t liecircuit conditions are preferably arrangedto cause the associ- -:ated lamp toremain dark ,It. ;will .be seen froin the above that the tens illumination may be varied in insens l'e; gradat1ons from a maximum to completedarkness, blending- ;gradually and continuously in harmony with the soundliiariations produced by the loud speaker 1 O. If desired, furthermore,

one'gr more ofthe-lamps may benormally lighted .toa predetermined minimum bri1 liancyin-the manner disclosed and claimed inthe D; -G. Blatt-ner Patent No. 1554,0623,

In the system described above, the lamp L which; is gcontroll ed by the lower freiuencies maybe colored red, .while the lamp controlled by the intermediate frequem 40 cies,-may. be colored reen, and the lampL controlled by tie hig lier frequencies, may be blue. These particular colors are arbitrarily associated with the various frequency bands; but a definite relation may of course be established in keepingwith the use to The-system of Fig. 1 may be employed in connection with public address systems by substituting a transmitter, such as is shown in Fig. 2. for, the apparatus to the left of the' line XX in Fig. 1. In such case, the

system may be used to advantage in theaters and auditoriums' in distributing flood lights or other lighting effects appropriate to the music orT other program being produced.

Theisystem of Fig. 1 may also be employed bowl in in connection with the radio receiving circuit of Fig. 3 as an aid in the interpretation of programs'ueceived from radio broadcasting stations.

In Fig. 4 a plurality of electric lamps. each controlled by a predetermined band of frequencies in accordance with the invention are clustered together inside an opalescent mounted on a cabinet phonograph 14. The lamps may also be mounted in many other-artistic arrangements which will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Fig. 5 illustrates one mannerin which the invention maybe employed to automatically distribute flood lights in harmony with orchestral nusic in .a-theater, A michopho'ne 15 conveniently meunted in the orchestra pit,-

converts, the sound variations into" electrical wares winch are transm tted to thecommoii collecting circuit 16. The 16 consists" of a plurality of channels each including; a' wave filter and associated detector similar to the arrangement shown in l.' i If desired, a plurality of elctricjlar'npsi' r'riaylbe connected in multiple in th -ontputof each? channel, these lamps being arranged iii groups a, b and c so that'eac {lamp' or a given group is controlled by a di'fierentb and of frequencies. .A uniform distribution jof illumination may thus bfobtainedby direct;

ing the liglitfrmn the several gro'lips fot' lamps upon different parts of the stage with the aid of suitable reflectors.

The invention is,.of course, susceptible of various other. modifications not specifically. referred to but included within the scope of the appended claims.

1; In a system 'for' associating light and sound,- a circuit including a source of electric waves, means for converting said waves into audible effects, a plurality of paths connected with said circuit, a selective circuit in each of said paths for transmitting waves comprised within a. predetermined-range of frequencies, and a source of light controlled by the energy in each of said paths.

2. In a system for, associating light and sound, a circuit including a source of electric waves, means for converting said waves into audible effects, a plurality of channels connected in parallel with said circuit, awave filter in leach of said channels for transmitting a predetermined range of frequencies, a space discharge device in each of said channels, and an electric lamp in the output of each of said devices.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day'ot October A. D.. I925.

EDWARD B. CRAFT. 

